Notre Dame’s QB Run Blueprint

In the 2025 National Championship, Notre Dame came out with a clear plan: lean on quarterback runs to put Ohio State in a numbers bind. And it worked, at least early.

The Irish set the tone with a 75-yard, 18-play touchdown drive that chewed up 9:45 of clock. The back carried his share of the load, but the QB runs kept the chains moving and the Buckeyes scrambling to adjust.

As a coach, I am always on the lookout for run game tags and variations that fit into a base system without blowing up practice time. None of what follows is revolutionary but it is easy to install, especially if you have a quarterback who is a legitimate ball carrier.

QB G/H Counter

Notre Dame dialed up quarterback G/H counter three times on that first drive, including the run that got them down to the 1-yard line before punching it in. They mixed the presentation each time.

Formation with RB and TE-wing on opposite sides to start. Shuffle motion from the RB to the play side created an empty-wing picture. That motion widened both the box linebacker and play side safety, making it easier for the RB to handle the alley player. The linebacker’s widened path gave the QB a better inside lane. Only breakdown of the play; the center got cross-faced by the backside 3-technique.